Can taking castor oil to induce labor harm my baby?
There is a debate over whether or not taking castor oil to bring on labor increases the risk of the baby having it’s first bowel movement before or during birth. A baby’s first stool is called meconium and if the baby inhales some, it can be very dangerous and can cause the baby to develop pneumonia. There is no clear evidence to support this theory as of now. A more common side effect is severe diarrhea, painful intestinal cramping (similar to food poisoning) and possibly nausea and vomiting in the mother, which can lead to dehydration. Castor oil has long been used as a strong laxative, which stimulates the bowels and bowel contractions are believed by some to help stimulate uterine contractions as well. In addition, castor oil is thought to stimulate production of prostaglandins, which induce labor. The safeness, as well as the effectiveness of castor oil to encourage the onset of labor is questionable. If you are overdue, your doctor or midwife can advise you on safer, gentler alte
